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If every elite swimmer's career has at least one major disaster — think Breeja Larson diving in early due to the starting horn going off before swimmers were set at the 2012 Olympics — then perhaps it's just as well that Kevin Cordes got his out of the way at his first World Championships.

The University of Arizona six-time NCAA champion dove in .01 seconds over the allowed limit for the breaststroke leg of the 400-medley relay, transforming an apparent 1.5-second win for the U.S. into a disqualification. Matt Grevers of Tucson took some of the blame for poor timing on his backstroke finish, but the onus fell mostly on Cordes.

"That was unfortunate," said UA coach Rick DeMont, who knows true misfortune because of being stripped of a 1972 Olympic gold medal for having ephedrine in his listed asthma medication. "But he's pretty resilient and it hasn't had a big effect on him. If might make him more hungry for the future, like I've got to show something."

Cordes showed plenty at the last two NCAA Championships, sweeping the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke in American record times both years to twice earn Swimmer of the Meet. He also won the 100- and 200-meter breaststrokes at the 2013 Phillips 66 National Championships, his ticket to Barcelona for Worlds.

Now 20, Cordes is positioning himself for a run at his first Olympics. He has one year of eligibility remaining at UA then plans to continue training with DeMont in Tucson leading up to the 2016 Rio Games.

"This is an important summer," said Cordes, who is seeded second in the 100 breast today at the Arena Grand Prix in Mesa. "I've had my success in short course and now I need to convert that to long course."

That didn't quite happen at 2013 Worlds even before the DQ. He was seventh in the 100 breast, ninth in the 200 breast just missing the final and 21st in the 50 breast.

"It's a completely different game," training and racing long course," Cordes said. "We've got to figure out the training," particularly since there are pull-outs off the wall than in short course. "I've got to figure out the balance between how much and how little I can do in training."

DeMont believes Cordes will learn to rely on his swimming in long-course races: "His stroke is a beautiful thing. It's got great rhythm and goes to long course really well. He'll be fine."

Today, though, against such competition as Damir Dugonjic, Mike Alexandrov, Scott Weltz and Tucson Ford Dealers teammate Marcus Titus is a different matter. Cordes took a week off after NCAA Championships ended March 29 before resuming training and scratched from the 200 breast Thursday because of a business class commitment. He was 51st in the 50 freestyle preliminaries Friday, swimming that sprint for the first time since high school in Naperville, Ill.

"He's a little beat up right now," DeMont said. "His legs are tired."

The point is not to be great again now but at Phillips 66 nationals, Aug. 6-10 in Irvine, Calif., where U.S. teams will be selected for the 2014 Pan Pacific and 2015 World Championships.

Phelps finishes up

Michael Phelps swam 24.06 seconds doing butterfly stroke in the 50 free preliminaries Friday morning, placing 42nd out of 89 finishers to complete his first meet back since the 2012 Olympics.

"I think it's a good starting point," said Phelps, who next will swim in a few events at the Arena Grand Prix in Charlotte, May 15-18.

Winners in Friday finals included Nathan Adrian and Cheyenne Coffman in the 50 free and Katie Ledecky and Ryan Lochte in the 200 free. Adrian, Ledecky and Lochte are double winners going into Day 3.

Jeserik Pinto dives into the water during the Women's 100 Meter Backstroke Prelims at the Arena Grand Prix on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Ryan Lochte breaks through the water as he makes his turn in the Men's 200 Meter Backstrokes Prelims at the Arena Grand Prix on Friday, April 25, 2014 at Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Michael Phelps smiles at his press conference after swimming in the Men's 50 Meter Freestyle Prelims at the Arena Grand Prix on Friday, April 25, 2014 at Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa. During this race Michael Phelps chose to swim a butterfly stroke, he do not make the finals. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Michael Phelps dives into the pool during the Men's 50 Meter Freestyle Prelims at the Arena Grand Prix on Friday, April 25, 2014 at Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa. During this race Michael Phelps choose to swim a butterfly stroke. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Michael Phelps finished second to Ryan Lochte (right) during the Men's 100 Meter Butterfly Final at the Arena Grand Prix on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Michael Phelps reacts after qualifying fastest in his heat at 52.84 seconds in the 100 Butterfly Prelims at the Arena Grand Prix on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Michael Phelps talks to the media after his first offical practice session for the Arena Grand Prix swim meet on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Michael Phelps talks to the media after his first offical practice session for the Arena Grand Prix swim meet on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Michael Phelps checks his pulse between laps as he returns to the pool for an offical practice session for the Arena Grand Prix swim meet on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Michael Phelps laughs while talking with coaches during a training session Wednesday, April 23, 2014, in Mesa as he prepares to compete for the first time since retiring after the 2012 London Games. The 22-time Olympic medalist is entered in three events at the Arena Grand Prix starting Thursday. Matt York/AP

Michael Phelps talks with his coaches during practice, Wednesday, April 23, 2014, in Mesa. The 22-time Olympic medalist is entered in three events at the Arena Grand Prix starting Thursday. Matt York/AP